Archbishop Jose H. Gomez will celebrate the Good Friday liturgy at noon Thursday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.
No Mass is celebrated on Good Friday. During the solemn liturgy, the faithful observe Christ’s suffering, crucifixion and death.
In the liturgy, the account of the Passion and Death of Christ is proclaimed from the Gospel of John. Gomez will carry a cross into the cathedral, recalling how Jesus carried a cross along the Via Dolorosa, the “Way of Suffering,” on his way to being crucified.
Special prayers will be offered for the needs of the church and the world and the cross will be venerated. Holy Communion will then be given to the faithful. Additional liturgies will be celebrated at the cathedral at 3 p.m in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish.
“During Holy Week, we see Our Lord tortured and killed because of his love for God,” Gomez said.
“Let’s reflect on his final Beatitude: ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted.’ We don’t face our trials alone. We go with Jesus, who carries his cross before us and gives us strength and courage in our weakness.”
— City News Service